Online store success

[StellarGirl5792]

I'm probably moving in a month or two and would love to get rid of all the stuff I don't use. Some things I've never used but can't take back. I want to open an online store on ecrater. Ebay sucks and they charge waaaaay too much. It looks small but it adds up. Has anyone ever had success on other store like sites? Any tips?

[Sophia_Starina]

Garage Sale?

[StellarGirl5792]

Yea. A high tech garage sale sorta. I simply don't have enough time or energy for a real one.

[Sophia_Starina]

I think real garage sales are way less energy intensive than online shtuff.

Between taking photos, writing cunning listings, and mailing things out all over the country... I think you'll be tired.

[Bridgette]

Depending on what kind of stuff it is, I'd either auction it on ebay or list it on craigslist and let people come get it. I don't think there's any other online marketplace that can compete with ebay for traffic.

[scarlett_vancouver]

For just selling off random old stuff, I've had the best success on craigslist. Ebay is best for specialty/in demand items, imo

[jester214]

craigslist... I've sold some interesting items on craigslist, probably the type of stuff you're looking to move.

[StellarGirl5792]

*slaps self on the head* I completely forgot about craigslist. Thanks

[fancygirl]

ebanned.com is another option if it's still around.

[XxAmber89xX]

depending on how much you have to sell... and how much time you have... (doesn't really take much) you might find this useful or not... or possibly someone else that has an interest of starting their own online auction business...

what i would do:

(worth it IMO if you have over $10,000 worth of goods... more work setting up, but easily implemented)...

1. I'd have these guys set up a low cost website for me with their online 'ebay' style static auctions: http://www.jbssoftware.com/ it's only $100 to set up account with them and design is cheap.

2. take photos of everything you are selling, identify, describe and load it to the auction database.

3. specify in the auction details that you will allow onsite inspection of the goods.

4. have a 10 day period before auction closes. get items up ASAP though...

5. advertise on Craigslist.org for the 'home contents by online auction- bidding starts at $1'...

6. make sure you advertise the special individual items seperately to draw in 'specific' interest... ie, jewellery... or a car..

7. when you have bidders register... disclose that you will pre-auth their CC's for $100.. this is to protect you and make sure they are serious bidders. make sure you have 'terms and conditions' that state as-is, where-is, if you are going to ship for them, or items to be picked up, etc., where and when to pick/up goods, and how you will treat property that is not picked up (basically, they are SOL). you basically gotta state everything... i can help with that...

8. advertise 10 days prior close, then again at 5 days, 4 days, 3, 2 and on the final day through online free classifieds and possibly in your local paper too- you can pre-arrange with paper classifieds when to place ads...

sample paper ad:

'Online Auction- local contents sale
all items start at $1. items include: (whatever) bidding open now. auction ends at (date and time) www.yourauction.com' and phone # if you wish... i'd just go with web address...

9. auction closes... collect payment through registered CC's... be available for pickup and shipping, if you'll provide for it... UPS, Purolator and Fed/Ex all make it easy with rates etc.. if you provide shipping, make sure you state that you charge for it...

Congratulation! you are now an online auctioneer!

ok... quite possibly more than you care to do or care to know... ahh...that's just me. hehe..

i probably wasted my time when i got into CC's... you probably want to keep everything cash, right? oh well... someone might want to use this info so i provided it anyways...

[Bridgette]

^Well I for one found that suggestion and info veerrrry interesting indeed.

[StellarGirl5792]

Thank you amber89. That was very helpful. I started taking pics of the things yesterday.

Other than craigslist, what are some other good sites to advertise. I'm definitely putting one in the paper and possibly a link in my sig here.

[Sophia_Starina]

^^^ again, that depends on what you are selling.

[StellarGirl5792]

Just to clarrify what will be sold ....

Everything my daughter has outgrown
Baby clothes & accessories
Baby gear (swings, car seats, bouncers, etc)
Baby toys
Bottles, blankets, etc.

My clothes that I don't wear or have never worn (glo jeans, aeropostale, abercrombie, bebe, no boundaries, rave, etc )
Shoes & purses
DVDs
Cameras
Software
Cell phones (most r new but I get upgrades)
Books
Some small furniture
Bed sets
Etc.....

Ill include a link in my sig and here when I get it put up.

[Sophia_Starina]

Wow thats a lot. Post the linkie in the Lounge too!